It's a polarizing topic online whether being obsessed with a public figure or celebrity is “healthy.” I’ll admit that it is a little strange to be so emotionally invested in a person you have never met, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In my personal experience, being a fangirl has enriched my life 100 times over.
During my tween era, I was a proud Directioner. One Direction fans were often criticized for our dedication and called“crazy” and “insane” because we let a boy band take up so much of our time. This was unironically addressed in the One Direction movie “This is Us.” They brought in a neurologist to explain why teen fangirls would scream, cry, throw up, etc. over the boys in One Direction simply existing. The verdict? They are just excited. GOD FORBID a girl gets excited and happy without being labeled crazy. Men act the same way about sports teams, and it's perfectly acceptable.
Being on "Stan Twitter/Instagram" when One Direction was at their peak (2012-2015) was an indescribable feeling. It felt so empowering to feel like you were a part of a digital community that reached all ends of the world. These teenage girls (albeit strangers) banded together and supported each other through the highest highs and lowest lows. It made me feel like any thought I felt crazy for having was being felt by hundreds of other girls around the world.
Men act the same way about sports teams, and it's perfectly acceptable.
In 2013, I saw One Direction in concert for the first and last time. What I didn’t realize was that I would be subconsciously repressing my love for them shortly after. As a very impressionable 13-year-old, I was told by society that being a fan of One Direction was only for “little kids.”
2022 was one of the best years of my life, and that has a big part to do with Harry Styles. It all started when I was home from my senior year of college during winter break. I was bored out of my mind in my hometown, with only a dream and a TikTok account. Harry was one of the only artists touring the US post-COVID. I would spend hours watching concert videos on TikTok, enchanted by the same funny and charming personality that I would spend hours watching videos of back in 2012. And just like that, my obsession was reignited. Once I started going down the One Direction/Harry Styles rabbit hole, there was no turning back. This return to the fandom was a way of healing my inner child, which was so needed at that point in my life.
On April 1, 2022, Harry Styles released his brand new single, “As It Was.” I remember counting down the days until it dropped and watching the music video the second it premiered. That same excitement I had felt as a tween returned, only this time it added a much-needed spark to my stress-filled college days. I now had a mental list of dates I was looking forward to.
Harry headlining Coachella weekends 1 and 2, tons of interviews and promo content leading up to his album release on May 20, 2022. As if that wasn’t enough, what followed was a full-fledged world tour and TWO movies with Harry as the lead (Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman). We were getting FED. There was a never-ending flow of content, and I had no problem letting my life get consumed by this man and his talent.
Being a fangirl didn’t just make life more fun, it made it fuller.
The anticipation around Harry’s new album didn’t just give me something to look forward to, it also led me to new connections. I bonded with two of my now friends, Julia and Valeria, all because of our shared obsession. I also joined a random iMessage group chat I saw on TikTok, which consisted of girls who shared the same desire to talk about Harry Styles way more than any non-fan would want to listen to. Despite never meeting in person, we became a little support system for each other and still keep in touch to this day, cheering each other on from afar via social media.
Being a fangirl didn’t just make life more fun, it made it fuller. It gives you something to be excited about outside of your own life. It removes you from life’s daily stressors and allows you to be a part of a community where everyone cares about the same things you do. I think everyone should care about someone or something as much as I care about Harry Styles/One Direction.
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